Play Outside the Box
by Keith Varnum

Throughout my life as I witnessed the marvels of powerful teachers, shaman
and healers, I found myself asking, "How'd they do that?"

"What was Mr. Rogers' secret?" He seemed so quiet, retiring, passive--and
yet events always went his way at the television station where he produced
"Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood." In his presence, rambunctious kids and novice
adult guests always seemed to know what to do and say without a script or
rehearsal. Wild animals acted as if they were performing on some invisible
cue. At the station, the conservative Board of Directors, reluctant
management and stubborn studio crew all miraculously went "against
character" to go along with whatever bold, visionary schemes Mr. Rogers
put forth. "How did he disarm people's opposition and bring out the play
and adventurousness in rigid parents, teachers, staff and city officials?"

The esteemed American actress Helen Hayes could convey with vivid clarity
to her student audience and me seven very diverse characters she was
portraying on stage without any discernable difference in the way she
dressed, gestured or carried herself. "What were her hidden devices? What
keys to successful communication had she mastered?"

My macrobiotic mentor, Michio Kushi, could take a very intellectual,
spiritually challenged audience on a profoundly electric journey of
personal visions, physical healing and visceral ecstasy. "How did he
change lead--stuck points of view--into gold--alive wisdom? What was he
doing behind-the-scenes to catalyze such remarkably strong, experiential
catharsis in each of the normally unfeeling, unresponsive students?"

I watched in amazement as Medicine Cloud, my Hopi medicine buddy, conjured
up a drenching thunderstorm out of a totally blue sky to wash away the mud
from the sacred red clay ritual he'd just performed on me. "Where did the
pain and rash go so quickly, so completely? How could I feel so peaceful
so fast when I had been so upset and depressed for a year?

"How did St. Germain physically appear at the foot of my bed when the
doors to my house and bedroom were locked tight?" I had to touch his robe
every tenth visit to make sure the Ascended Master standing there was
solid and real. "How did he know my deepest, most secret thoughts that I
had never expressed to anyone?" I felt so vulnerable, yet safe; so naked,
yet open--when he directed his eternal, yet personal wisdom to me. "Why
did I feel so calm, clear and courageous in his presence?" The profound
feeling of absolute connection and aliveness has remained with me ever
since his visits. "How was he able to communicate with me without his
mouth moving? How did he project scenes of my life on the wall?"

"Why did my friends and I instinctively trust this mysterious Eastern
teacher with our souls?" Muktananda was just some dark-skinned man from
India we'd never heard of before this day. Our fears melted and our hearts
opened to the Heavens with the sound of his laughter. Our inner beauty
blossomed with the touch of his finger to our foreheads.

Jewish by birth, New Yorkish by nature, Lester Levenson looked like a
cross between a mischievous 100-year-old leprechaun and a noble Native
American Indian chief. He could charm the needles off a porcupine. And he
would bring out more excitement, strength and insight from me in one day
than I had encountered up to that time in my life. "What was his magic?"

What are the common underlying dynamics at work here?

"How did all the shamans, acupuncturists, rebirthers, Reiki masters and
other healers I've known pull off their miraculous cures?" In the aura and
influence of powerful facilitators, I have witnessed many remarkable
turnarounds in peoples' physical conditions, financial wealth, mental
attitudes and spiritual abilities. My whole life, I have asked Spirit the
question, "How?"

Go to the Source

When I observed my very first extraordinary phenomenon in life, I decided
to find out what was behind this and other wondrous occurrences. I
concluded that the only way for me to ever really know what was going on
was to open to the same level of magic in my own life.

Move Outside the Box

I quickly realized that to experience more magic in my life, I had to
leave the life that I was currently living. I had to move "outside the
box." Act, not just think, "outside the box." By definition, miracles
occur outside our usual world.

Ex-periment

All magic occurs beyond the boundaries of our current belief system. To
experience something new, we need to ex-periment with reality. "Ex" in
Latin means to go outside. "Periment" comes from the same root as
"perimeter," that is, boundary, border. To experience anew, we need to go
outside the boundaries of our old box. With this intention and
willingness, all is possible!

Ask Outside the Box

To get specific suggestions on what actions to take outside the box, ask
for a suggestion from the part of your consciousness that is "outside of
past experience." If you intend to access this realm of your knowing, you
can connect with it. It's only a matter of what part of your consciousness
you ask.

Again, intention and willingness are the key. Direct your attention and
receptivity to the aspect of your being--knowing, essence--that is
independent of past experience. Voila! Fresh, new answers, options,
alternatives, outcomes ... miracles!

Our Trusty Friend Intuition

And what is that part of our consciousness that is free of the past--free
of fear, limitation and programming? Our intuition of course! Intuition by
definition operates outside of the box. Do whatever you can to develop and
nurture your clear connection to your intuition.

Walk Out of Your Old Reality

My shaman teachers told me that I could simply walk out of my old boxed-in
world. Literally walk out of the box! At first, I certainly didn't believe
them. Freedom from old patterns and limitations couldn't be that simple.
Yet, I did it--and it worked! Not every time--but it worked with enough
patterns to encourage me to practice and hone my skill. Now, with my
actions guided by my intuition, I can walk out of old limitations that
have served their spiritual purpose and value.

Know that the whole of your life--events, situations and people--has been
secretly structured by your soul in order to bring you the experiences you
want to have this lifetime. Approach life as if the whole of creation is
conspiring to bring you goodness ... because it is!

About the Author Drawing from the wisdom of native and ancient spiritual
traditions, Keith Varnum shares his 30 years of practical success as an
author, personal coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host,
restaurateur, vision quest guide and international seminar leader with
"The Dream Workshops". Keith helps people get the love, money, and health
they want with his F-r-e-e Prosperity Ezine, F-r-e-e Abundance Tape and
F-r-e-e Coaching at TheDream.com.